*Bleem--skkzzt* came a sound, as the crystal was smashed by Thorgir, breaking apart like glass rather than an amethyst.

Brin was about to poke at the crystal with Lumori's segmented pole, but then just stared incredulously at the barbarian's antics.

A seven-foot high rectangle along the white wall began to glow a pale green, and immediately next to it, another shimmering green outline of an identical doorway appeared. Then the walls seemed to “evaporate” in those spaces, revealing twin chambers.

Once opened, the “closet-like” interiors of each could only be described as disappointments…stark-white, vertical, rectangular shafts, barely large enough for the six of them to stand inside comfortably.

They could see without entering, that each aperture had a small crystal knob sticking out of a wall. The knobs seemed to be metallic. Harder to smash, but doable.

The sound of the smashing crystal did seem to have one other effect. The susurrus coming from everywhere and nowhere, grew louder still, and closer. Like a concert of alien flutes, or a hundred hollow bamboo poles, sucking in air, and expelling it. It was impossible even to ascertain if the droning was *the* sound or the echo of one.

PoisonAlchemist: Man Muro, you boost my confidence and then you just go crush it with a heartbreaking work of staggering genius.Pariah: Don't tell him things like that, if his head gets any bigger he'll float off like a weather ballon :p

Somnak peered at the two new small rooms and grunted - probably some kind of magical traveling device, he supposed. But that droning was beginning to make him unsettled, and his prey was a different direction! "I do not know what that foul sound is, but i do not want to stay to find out! " The half-Orc ignored made his way to the left passageway - where those blood droplets led.

Somnak raced ahead impatiently, down the left passage, following the Seneschal's spilled life essence, as the others inspected the twin chambers and the metallic knobs...

He must have gotten forty feet down the tunnel, when up ahead, he could make out a dead-end. No, not a dead end! Instead the tunnel appeared to turn at a ninety degree angle approximately sixty feed in front of him.

Aha! One of the four corners of the pyramid.

The tunnel, all white and aglow, looked eerie to the half-orc. Unnatural!

But he didn't have much time to contemplate his next move, because from around the blind turn in the hall, a creature of nightmare emerged, rounding the corner.

Somnak could make out a hulking shape shambling along the passage heading directly for him now, but in no apparent hurry. The droning mystery was now solved as well, for the haunting sound seemed to emanate from this very creature!

The monstrosity resembled a vaguely humanoid ape-like creature. It was constructed out of what appeared to be a giant pile of hundreds of rotting bamboo poles, fungus, and decomposing plant-life. The droning came from the many bamboo-like tubes, extending from its body, in all directions.

PoisonAlchemist: Man Muro, you boost my confidence and then you just go crush it with a heartbreaking work of staggering genius.Pariah: Don't tell him things like that, if his head gets any bigger he'll float off like a weather ballon :p

Somnak screeched to a halt at the sight of this horrific being! What kind of horror was this!? He hesitated for just a moment before running back to the first corridor, "Something coming...! Big!! I hope you all figured out what these knobs do!" He had no desire to try and fight this odd new creature if it could be avoided! Hoping against hope that the knobs were indeed some form of transportation, he stepped in the left small chamber and fiddled with the metallic object, pressing and pulling on it!

Melior quietly translated for Meleana all that his companions were saying as they followed their base personality types: reckless fools who were stupider than a dead monkey with half its brain eaten by army ants and replaced with the feces of a sloth.

But now the fool half-orc was simply asking for trouble. Wandering off by himself after the cyclops, by the great elven gods of magic! Like children.

But lambasting them for this behavior was not a possibility; if the half-orc was right, and his imagination wasn't being effected by whatever kind of mushrooms orcs like.

"Into the space, everyone!" Said Melior. "Melee fighter near entrance, ranged fighters in back. Throgir and Lumori in front, Brin and Somnak middle, Meleana and myself in back."

He hurried into the back, guiding Meleana with one hand "We shall ambush it," he finished, "or wait as it passes. Your call."

A few smooth steps, and the dark woman took her place in the order, though Brin had little like for this room. What strange sorceries could be controlled by the knob, she knew not. It was... concerning. And, as she looked in the direction of the plant thing, she shook her head, murmuring. "I don't think ambush is possible anymore."

Meleana nodded at Melior's plan. Despite the urgency, she enjoyed seeing him taking charge like this, obviously he was the leader of the group, though he seemed to be having problems controlling these brutes, especially that pig-man who was always running around. He didn't smell very good either, especially up close.

And she certainly didn't enjoy being this close to the sneaky drow. She suspiciously studied her ears. What was she playing at? From what Meleana had heard, drow never travelled alone. And they only went to the surface world to raid for slaves. It just didn't make any sense.

She wondered what big thing was coming, she couldn't see much where she stood. Just to be safe, she cast barkskin on herself. She quietly studied her arm, as the texture of her skin changed. Her beautiful soft bronzed skin slowly turning a darker ebony. She smiled and strutted a little, in case anyone else was watching.

Disliking packed spaces, and more than slightly annoyed with the wizard who seemed to think he had some sort of authority over the group, Lumori slid into the right compartment.

Away from the others, he glanced around the room to spy any obvious traps, then held very still as he heard the large creature approaching down the hall. Lack of movement wasn't cover of darkness, but it was a start.

Whether Thorgir was reacting to the elf's orders or not was unclear - he simply stepped back slowly somewhat in awe of the thing coming into view. He would stand here and fight, regardless of what happened behind him.

He stood alone on the "front line" cramped inside the compartment, for Lumori the thief was no where to be seen. Behind Thorgir, Somnak feverishly fiddled with the metallic knob. Melior barked orders and cracked his spell-casting fingers. Meleana seemed lost in her own thoughts, standing there next to Melior behind Thorgir and Brin.

Quote

"I don't think ambush is possible anymore."

Indeed, as the lumbering, wheezing bamboo-tube monster came into view, it turned to examine the cramped companions, conveniently packed inside the small chamber. The beast seemed to eye them (though it had no eyes!) and bellowed suddenly, letting out a horrific whooshing gust of air as it did from its many tubes and pipes. Thorgir's wild hair blew back, as the wind-gust hit his face, and Meleana's and Brin's locks danced in the gust as well, as the beast raised its forearms, capped with sharpened bamboo-like claws, and lunged at Thorgir, who was first in line...

(ooc: Initiative. Beasty rolls a 4)

---------------

Perhaps it was because Thorgir had smashed the purple crystal, moments earlier. Perhaps it was due to Somnak's fiddling of the other knob in the other aperture. Perhaps not. Regardless, as Lumori examined the other chamber with his practiced thief-eye, searching out traps, the chamber he was in, suddenly jolted and the entire chamber began to ascend with Lumori still inside! Outside he could hear the beast's alien sounds now. His companions were facing the thing head-on.

(ooc: a successful dex check by Lumori-- Dex or lower on a d20-- and he can easily dive out from the chamber before it begins to "ascend". OR, Lumori can choose to ride the elevator up, off to explore on his own! Whoop!)

PoisonAlchemist: Man Muro, you boost my confidence and then you just go crush it with a heartbreaking work of staggering genius.Pariah: Don't tell him things like that, if his head gets any bigger he'll float off like a weather ballon :p

The creature struck with its giant fore-arms at the barbarian, as it breathed in and out. The first was blocked by Thorgir's shield, the second struck home, an almost painless puncture with a razor-sharp bamboo claw, but a spot of blood appeared along the barbarian's arm. (ooc: rolled 6 and 16 for attack, 2 for damage)

It was almost impossible for Thorgir to maneuver out of the creature's way. The beast blocked the entrance of the tightly-packed chamber, and there was no room for him to move back, with his companions packed tightly behind him. All he could do was take the brunt of the thing's direct assault...

PoisonAlchemist: Man Muro, you boost my confidence and then you just go crush it with a heartbreaking work of staggering genius.Pariah: Don't tell him things like that, if his head gets any bigger he'll float off like a weather ballon :p

Thorgir's Qullan blade crashed into the conglomerate of bamboo poles. No blood came forth, always a concern for the barbarian...a simple momentary interruption in its enigmatic breathing pattern was the beast's only reaction, as it bore down on Thorgir once more.

Suddenly the beast let out another moaning gust of air at the companions, and then inhaled again, sucking in the oxygen around it with a bizarre, indescribable sound.

This was immediately followed by an ear-deafening sound of creaking, breaking, and splintering wood, as the Susurrus' bamboo body began to warp and bend, no doubt causing the beast great agony!

PoisonAlchemist: Man Muro, you boost my confidence and then you just go crush it with a heartbreaking work of staggering genius.Pariah: Don't tell him things like that, if his head gets any bigger he'll float off like a weather ballon :p

The metal knob did nothing, and Somnak resigned himself to combat. With a snarl, he complied with Melior's words, moving to the middle of the group, and when the opportunity arose, he pulled his axe free and made a frantic swing at the beast

(08:17:17) Minion: Shadoweagle rolls 1d20 and gets 3.

The swing landed nowhere near the bamboo beast, instead passing through air and landing with a *crunch* against the wall.

Melior almost absently mindedly shot off a volley of magic missiles at the thing, for curiosity gripped his mind on how this monstrosity was animated, and the source of its life. Was there an item stuck in the middle of those bamboo poles that could be of use to him? Whatever the reason, Melior decided that he would search its remains after he killed it.

(16:50:20) Minion: caesar193 rolls 2d4 and gets 1,3. +1 to each for a total of 6 damage

Standing behind Thorgir and Somnak in the tightly-packed chamber, jostling between Meleana and Melior, Brin was momentarily unable to attack the bamboo beast. She seethed instead, gripping her flail tightly. Meanwhile Lumori was nowhere to be seen.

Melior's force missiles struck the beast, and it wheezed grotesquely.

(ooc: the Susurrus has now taken a grand total of 28 points of damage. Initiative. Susurrus rolls a 3. Someone make a party roll please.)

PoisonAlchemist: Man Muro, you boost my confidence and then you just go crush it with a heartbreaking work of staggering genius.Pariah: Don't tell him things like that, if his head gets any bigger he'll float off like a weather ballon :p

Now enraged, breathing raggedly through its many tubes and pipes, the hollow beast bore down with both forearms upon Thorgir, the meatiest and closest target to the creature.

Once more the creature's left arm struck Thorgir's shield, and even crumbled a bit, the sharp twang of bamboo cracking reverberating in Thorgir's ears. This thing was hopeless, Thorgir had time to think but then its second arm's claw caught him just below the neck, millimeters away from his jugular. This time the claw struck deep, and as it pulled free, blood spurted from Thorgir's bare chest.

The creature reared back, exhaled in a roll of thunder, and inhaled again, sucking in the air. Thorgir could feel his eyelashes gently swaying along his lids.

(ooc: Minion: Murometz rolls 2d20 and gets 1,20. Murometz rolls 1d8 and gets 6. +2 so 8 damage to Thorgir. The thing also did 2 points of damage to itself when it struck his shield with a 1. 30 points of damage has been taken by the creature. Now you all go again.)

The two villagers whom everyone had forgotten (including me) were petrified with fear, and would not poke the beast's back with their spears from behind. Instead they lunged toward the other aperture, where Lumori was, attempting to hide there, even as the chamber made a queer sound and began rising through the very wall!

PoisonAlchemist: Man Muro, you boost my confidence and then you just go crush it with a heartbreaking work of staggering genius.Pariah: Don't tell him things like that, if his head gets any bigger he'll float off like a weather ballon :p

Three dozen bamboo shards cracked and splintered from the the thing's body as Thorgir struck! Bamboo shrapnel went flying in all directions, one jagged tube even striking Somnak across the forehead in a red line, just missing his eye. (ooc: 1 pt of damage to Somnak)

The thing still stood. Inhale. Kill. Exhale. It raised its massive arms once more against the barbarian.

PoisonAlchemist: Man Muro, you boost my confidence and then you just go crush it with a heartbreaking work of staggering genius.Pariah: Don't tell him things like that, if his head gets any bigger he'll float off like a weather ballon :p

PoisonAlchemist: Man Muro, you boost my confidence and then you just go crush it with a heartbreaking work of staggering genius.Pariah: Don't tell him things like that, if his head gets any bigger he'll float off like a weather ballon :p

Meleana was just about to cast another spell, when Melior's missiles downed the living mound. She smiled and nodded with contentment.< "Well done, my pou'eijo." > She said and stroked Melior's arm adoringly. As she smiled and looked around, a frown came to her brow.< "Where is Myhak and Yurhak? Don't tell me they ran away already..." >Irritated, she sidled out past the downed susurrus to peek outside the chamber. In the tight quarters of the chamber this presented her boa, ever present around her neck, to a very close encounter with the unfortunate "drow", luckily for her all that meant was a playful forked tongue on her cheek. Meleana didn't even notice.